The stock markets in Dhaka and Chattogram faced a sharp decline on the first trading day of the week on Sunday, leaving investors rattled as major indices fell and share prices of most companies slumped.
The benchmark DSEX index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) dropped by 35 points, the highest fall so far this month.
The other two indices also recorded losses: the Shariah-based DSES was down by 6 points, while the blue-chip DS30 fell by 15 points.
Stock market begins week with a jolt as indices tumble in Dhaka, Chattogram
A majority of the traded stocks ended in the red. Out of 397 traded companies, share prices fell for 270, rose for 79, and remained unchanged for 48.
Across all categories — A, B, and Z — most companies witnessed a decline in share prices, with Z-category shares faring the worst. Of the 95 listed Z-category companies, only 9 registered gains, 69 declined, and 17 remained unchanged.
Among the 36 mutual funds traded, prices rose for just 3 and remained unchanged for 7, while 25 declined.
In the block market, shares worth Tk 33.67 crore were traded across 30 companies, with Sunlife Insurance leading the volume with shares worth Tk 9.89 crore.
Alongside the falling indices, turnover at the Dhaka bourse also declined. The total turnover stood at Tk 414 crore, a drop from Tk 540 crore in the previous session.
Sector-wise Performance
The banking sector performed poorly. Of the 26 listed banks, only five saw price increases, while prices remained unchanged for another five, and declined for the remaining 16. Overall, bank shares declined by 1.66% in a single session.
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Financial institutions also followed suit, with only 1 company gaining, 4 remaining unchanged, and 18 losing value.
The insurance sector mirrored the downward trend — 42 out of 58 listed companies in the sector suffered losses, while only 11 advanced and 5 remained stable.
All three listed telecom companies saw a fall in their share prices. In the textile sector, 41 companies lost value compared to gains by only 9. In the pharmaceuticals sector, 24 companies fell, while 7 gained. The IT sector also saw a drop, with 8 companies declining and only 1 showing gains.
Despite overall sectoral declines, marginal gains were observed in sectors like jute, engineering, food, and cement. The cement sector, in particular, showed a 2.47% rise, although share prices of 4 out of 7 companies in the sector dropped.
Top Gainers
Eastern Cables Limited led the top gainers with a 9.94% rise. The stock opened at Tk 125 and closed at Tk 131.60 per share.
Wata Chemicals Limited followed with a 9.90% gain, rising from Tk 124 to Tk 134.30.
Heidelberg Materials was third with an 8.74% increase, its share price climbing from Tk 273.60 to Tk 297.50 within a single day.
Pharmaceutical company ACI Formulations gained 7.43%, with its share price jumping from Tk 850.90 to Tk 914.10.
Munno Agro secured the fifth spot among top gainers, with a 6.91% rise — from Tk 320 to Tk 342.10.
Top Losers
Al-Haj Textile Mills led the decliners, losing 9.94%. Its share price fell from Tk 141.40 to Tk 128.60.
Among banks, Prime Bank suffered the steepest loss at 9.58%.
In the ceramics sector, Shinepukur Ceramics dropped by 8.14%.
Phoenix Finance and Investment in the financial sector shed 7.50%, while S Alam Cold Rolled Steels lost 5.91%.
Stock markets see rise in indices, but trading volume declines in Dhaka, Chittagong
Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE)
The Chattogram Stock Exchange mirrored the decline seen in Dhaka, with the overall index falling by 38 points.
Out of 195 traded companies, 119 saw a drop in share prices, 56 registered gains, and 20 remained unchanged.
Despite the drop in the index, turnover at the CSE increased to Tk 15 crore — the highest so far this month.
Eastern Cables Limited also topped the CSE gainers, with a 9.97% increase in a single day.
Meanwhile, Prime Bank saw the biggest drop in CSE, falling by 11.16% from Tk 24.20 to Tk 21.50 per share.